Combined infant resuscitator and incubator



April 25, 1944 H. M. KIRSCHBAUM 2,347,326

` COMBINED INFANT RESUSCITATOR AND INCUBATOR Filed Feb. 9, 1942 s sheets-sheet 1 "FIG.|.

JNVENTOR.

HARRY M.KIRSCHBAUM .Mmmm/@M ATTORNEYS lApril` 25, 1944. H. M. KIRSCHBAUM COMBINED INFANT RESUSCITATOR AND INGUBATOR 3 Sheecs--Sheefl 2 Filed Feb. 9,. 1942 E SWITCH H LC MW EW PS HUMIDIFIER INVENTOR. HARRY M.KIRSCHBAUM ATToRNEvg April 25, 1944 H. M. KlRscHBAUM 2,347,326

COMBINED INFANT RESUSCITATOR AND INCUBATOR Filed Feb. 9, 1942 3 .Sheets-Sheet 3 l :@f T3 .z M' y l M.

l PuLsgTm oxysEN y SUWQN sucrlo Is granen PRESSURE oxyeEra `Fl OXYGEN TANK F OXYGEN swvrcH L P, PEoAL IIE DRAWER PEoAL \Ql PUMP SWITCH PEDAL INVENTOR. HARRY M.KIRSCHBAUM www l 3 .Y

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25, 1944 COMBINED INFANT RESUSCITATOR AN INCUBATOR Harry M. Kirschbaum, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 9, 1942, Serial ANo. 430,139

(Cl. 12S-1) 1 Claim.

In obstetrical operations, the attendant surgeon has the double responsibility of caring for the mother and for the newborn infant. It frequently happens that for the proper care of the infant different pieces of apparatus are necessary which are not always immediately available. Furthermore, it is absolutely essential that in the care for the infant the physician should not lose his sterile technique.

It is an object of the invention to obtain a portable apparatus which provides for all of the needs of the infant and which may be placed in close proximity to the operating table on which the mother is lying,

It is a further object to provide controls for this apparatus which may be operated by the physician While still maintaining his sterile technique.

Still further, it is an object to obtain an apparatus which after use as a resuscitator can be converted into an incubator for the infant and in which it may be transported to the nursery.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus with the parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan View with the incubator housing removed;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the mechanical and electrical connections to the various instrumentalities; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing one of the sterilized resuscitating instruments and means for coupling the same.

A is a frame for holding all of the various devices needed for the care of the infant as well as some for the mother. The top of this frame forms a bed or table on which the newborn infant may be laid, and for maintaining this at proper temperature, there is provided beneath the top a chamber B containing an electrical heating unit B and a humidifier B2. This chamber is preferably formed of a metal pan having its margin secured to the top C. D is an open mesh .Wire screen above the pan, which forms a support for a blanket D while permitting passage o warm and humidied air therethrough.

Mounted in the lower portion of. the frame is a bottom or supporting shelf E for carrying an oxygen tank F. This tank is provided withvthe usual controls F for discharge of gas therefrom, so that the same quantity of gas will be discharged in equal time intervals Without regard to the diminishing pressure within the tank. Above the shelf E is a second shelf E' on which is placed an electrically operated air pump G. As

ltrolled by circuit closing switches L and L'.

shown, this pump comprises a motor G' and a pair of opposed cylinders G2 and G3, with an intermediate crank or eccentric G4 for operating the pistons (not shown). A belt connection G5 between the motor and a pulley on the crank shaft serves to drive the latter. Cross-connecting the two cylinders of the pump is the pressure air conduit H having a discharge line H' therefrom. The cylinders are also cross-connected by a suction conduit I with an outleading suction line I. Suitable valves (not shown) are provided in each cylinder for controlling the outgoing and incoming air. The pressure line H' preferably includes a lter H2 and a flexible conduit I-I3 leading to a wash bottle H4 and thence to a discharge nozzle H5. This nozzle is preferably located to project into a chamber J at one end of the frame, in which chamber is placed a spray bott1e J and a length of tubing for connecting it to thev nozzle; A hinged door J3 normally closes this chamber, but provides access to the spray when needed.

The suction lin'e I includes a filter I2 and a flexible conduit I3 leading to a pair of suction nozzles I4 and I5. These are located at opposite ends of the frame, the nozzle I4 being conveniently used while the child is still with the mother, and the nozzle I5 when the child is laid upon the blanket D'. A receptacle I6 is so connected to the tubing I3 as to receive any liquid which may be drawn from the nozzles I'1 and I5.

The gas from the tank F, after passing through the regulator F', enters a conduit K which has two branches K and K2. These branches are respectively controlled by electromagnetically operated valves K3 and K4, which in turn are con- The branch conduit K', after passing the valve K3 leads to a nozzle M which may be connected to tubing, as hereinafter explained. The branch conduit K2, after passing the valve K4, leads to a nozzle M adapted to be connected to a tubing for directly administering oxygen to the infant.

It is very essential that the gas administered to the infant should not exceed a pressure above l5 to 20 mm. of mercury, as otherwise there is danger of rupturing the infants lungs. I thereforerplace in the branch K a pressure regulator N which may be set to deliver gas therethrough at not over this limit of pressure.

Another important feature in the administration of gas to the infant is that it should be delivered in pulsations timed to correspond to the natural rhythm of the infants breathing. This I accomplish by providing a timing mechanism O, driven by an electric motor O' and through drawer.

mechanism is operated, the valve K4 will be periodically opened for an instant and then closed. The motor O is preferably a synchronous motor running at constant speed, and the reducing gears O2 will determine the length of interval between successive openings such, for instance, as 23 openings per minute. As this corresponds to the natural rhythm of the infants breathing,

it will be effective in resuscitation.

One of the first operations in the resuscitation of a newborn infant is the removal of mucus from the mouth and throat. This may be accomplished by the use of a tracheal catheter, which may be connected to one of the suction nozzles I4, I5. It is essential, however, that the surgeon lin the use of this instrument should not bring hishandsin contact with anything which-is nonsterile, and I have therefore provided-means for :insuring the sterility of all instruments which `,heymay handle. To this end, there is provided `atthe end of the frame, to the right (Fig. 1), a `normally closed drawer P which may contain 'Various instruments such as the catheter, together with lengthsof. tubing andk coupling devices which have all been thoroughly sterilized.

.The drawer is opened by pressing on a pedal P' at the same endv of the frame, this being connected to a slidable shank P2 which in turn has `the flexible connection P3 passing around a sheave Pf and attached to the rear end of the A spring P5 normally holds the drawer in closed position, but'upon depression of the pedalV P', it--will be drawn open, as indicated in dotted lines (Fig. 1). As soon as the pedal pressure is released, the spring P5 will yagain close the drawer. Thus it is not necessary for the surgeon to touch any objecty or surface that has not been sterilized, while at the same time he is provided with the necessary instruments in convenient proximity which may be needed in the resuscitation of the infant.

As has been stated, theelectromagnetically operated valves lK3 and K4 are operated by electric circuits controlled by the switches or circuit closers L and L. These in turn may be operated by pedals Q and Q' which are arranged on opposite sides of the pedal P', to be actuated by the surgeons foot. The timer Oy is controlled by a `knee switch R conveniently positioned at the end of the frame.

lTo convert the apparatus -into an incubator, Ijhave provided a removable hood or cover S,

.which may be placed over the table C to enclose the space thereabove. The nozzles I4, I5, M and M' are located to be outside of the space occupiedby this hood, so as not to interfere either with its removal or replacement. The hood has arranged therein a thermostatic control S' for the heating element B', which may be electrically connected to this element by a conductor cord S2 and a plug socket S3 in the table C.

Operation The frame A being mounted upon casters A may be easily rolled into convenient position for use. Preferably, this is adjacent to the foot of the bed or operating table on which the mother is replaced, to extend at right angles thereto. Before the birth of the child the attendant nurse may take the spray J from the chamber J, at-

Yoxygen to the nozzle M.

taching it by a tube to the nozzle H5, for use in spraying the body of the mother. For this operati-on it is only necessary that the surgeon should start the pump G by depressing the pedal Q which closes the switch L', and this he can do without touching his hands to any nonsterile object. After the delivery of the child, it is placed on the blanket D' Which has been Iwarmed to the proper temperature by the heater B'. The surgeon may then depress the pedal P', opening the drawer P and removing therefrom the instrument for extracting mucus from the mouth and throat of the infant. This includes a length -of flexible hose T, with a nozzle T at one end thereof and a coupler T2 at its opposite end. All

`of these parts being sterilized, the surgeon'may Vtake the coupler T2 in his hands and engage it with the nozzle ILwithout touching his hands to therlatter. -He may thenpress the `pedal Q to close the switch L; and start the pump G. The

nozzle `T' is then inserted in the mouth of the infant, andthe suction will 'remove the mucus therefrom, depositing it into the Yreceptacle I6. If it is desirable to administer oxygen, the knee switch R is operated to start the motor O' ofthe timer O, which 'will periodically operate the electromagnetic valve K4 to supply pulses vof A sterile tube and coupler T3 is connected to this nozzle M', the opposite end having a mask T4 which is placed Vover the infants nose and mouth. As soon as resuscitation has been accomplished, the nurse will place the hood S over the infant still resting on the blanket D', and the whole apparatus may be rolled away to the nursery. The external electrical connections (not shown) may be stored in suitable compartments such asv U, and controlling switches such as U' may also be conveniently` arranged therein. These are for the use of the attendant nurse and thereforeneed not be sterilized. When the device is being transported, the external electrical connections will be temporarily uncoupled, but the heat stored ,inthe apparatus is sufficient to maintain the desired temperature until the electrical connections are reestablished at the new location.

It is sometimes desirable to administer oxygen to the infant while in the incubator. For this purpose, a tube V extends out through the frame, to have its discharge end within the hood vS, thelower end of said tube having connection with the oxygen tank. Access to this tank and ,the Vcontrols for the4 discharge of gas therefrom is obtained by opening a hinged door W to the Acompartment in which thesemembers are placed.

What I claim as my invention is: Acombined infant resuscitator and incubator comprising a portable frame forming a carriage forrresuscitating apparatus, a bed or operating .table formed on Atop of said frame on which the newborn infant may belaid in accessible position for resuscitation, saidbed including an open mesh screen for supporting. the bedding, a chamber within said frame beneath said screen, air heating and humidifying means within said chamber, and a removable enclosure engageable with the top of said frame for surrounding the infant on said bed after resuscitation andformimg .an incubator.

HARRY M. KIRSCHBAUM. 

